The Island's Food Digest

In case you missed it

Lucy Morrow, chef at Terre Rouge, was chosen as one of eight Canadian chefs to cook for over 250 business owners at the Fortune Global Forum on October 15, which was hosted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Congratulations to chef Irwin MacKinnon won the Great Kitchen Party Regional Chef Challenge held in Moncton. He will be heading to BC in February 2019 to represent our region at the Canadian Culinary Competition. MacKinnon won the competition with a plate of inspired local foods, which included scallops, braised PEI beef short ribs, chanterelle mushrooms, golden and candy cane beets, and many other local ingredients. As a final local touch, he paired his dish with an Upstreet brewery ale.

In restaurant news, Uncle Mike’s Bar and Grill opened on Water Street in Summerside.

Our Island award in recognition of its outstanding cuisine and its use and promotion of local Island agricultural products. The prize was presented to chef Norman Day jointly by PEI Adapt Council chair Elmer MacDonald and CEO Phil Ferraro. In its 12th year, the awards also resulted in chef Jamie Power of Blue Mussel Café being given the People’s Choice award. Runners up this year included Eden’s Gate and chef Bobbi Jo MacLean; Blue Mussel Café and chef Jamie Power; PoleHouse Café at the Cardigan Farmer’s Market and chef Leif Hammarlund; Terre Rouge Craft Kitchen and chef Lucy Marrow; My Plum, My Duck and chef Sarah Forrester Wendt; Papa Joe’s and chef Irwin MacKinnon; and PEI Preserve Company’s chef Christopher Skiffington.

Upstreet Craft Brewing has expanded beyond PEI to Nova Scotia. A new restaurant, Upstreet BBQ Brewhouse recently opened in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. When Bill Pratt, founder and director of the chef Inspired group of restaurants in Nova Scotia saw the vacant location on Windmill Road, he approached Upstreet CEO and co-founder Mitch Cobb about the potential of working together on a new venture. “It’s a sailor’s dream to own a brewery, and that dream has stayed with me past my service in the Navy,” Pratt says. “The partnership with Upstreet is a natural one. We’re both committed to high-quality food and beverages and share the same values of creating great experiences for our customers and employees.” Upstreet BBQ Brewhouse will serve a wide range of Upstreet beers, including fan favourites and new brews exclusive to the location.

A number of local food producers were awarded funding from PEI’s Ignition Fund. The funds will assist local producers in their businesses ventures. Gallant’s Seafood Market is developing a line of four locally inspired-oyster and seafood sauces; Maritime Marzipan Confectionery has been expanding their products, many of which are using marzipan, an all natural, almond-based sweet treat; and New World Foeders, who are Canada’s first foeder manufacturer, making wooden barrels for fermentation and aging products in the brewery, winery, distillery, and cidery industries. Funding was awarded as well to Red Island Cider, a new company which will be brewing premium alcoholic cider beverages at a facility in central PEI.

The PEI Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) is developing legislation that will establish the creation of a Food Awareness Day and a Food Awareness Week. These events intend to promote, celebrate, and create awareness about food in PEI. The legislation will also include the option for the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries to set annual local food goals or objectives for organizations in PEI. The DAF is looking for your feedback to inform both the legislation and policy. If interested, please submit your feedback by November 4, email: agr-feedback@gov.pe.ca

Sara and Akbar Sadat, from Sadat’s Cuisine in Charlottetown have been reunited with Sara’s parents, Sayed and Bibi Fazli, who were stranded as refugees in Turkey for the last year and a half. A small sponsoring group of local volunteers have been working hard to make this reunion happen. Through a series of special dinners at Sadat’s Cuisine, with the boost of some generous donations, and a raffle of Afghan jewelry by Ann Thurlow, the project is within reach of the full amount required by Immigration Canada to carry the refugees through the first year. A final fundraising dinner will be held on November 3 at Sadat’s Cuisine in Charlottetown. To reserve your spot call 902-367-6631 or 902-213-7420

Upcoming Events

Enjoy a cooking class with Chef Pierre El Hajjar at the Carrefour de l’Isle-Saint-Jean. This month, the cuisine of Japan will be explored. Cost is $10. To register email: camille@carrefourisj.org or phone: 902-368-1895

Charlottetown’s original and biggest farmers’ market is open from 9am-2pm year round on Saturdays and Wednesdays 9am to 2pm June 14 to October 4. It’s a Saturday morning tradition for many Islanders and a destination for locals and visitors in search of fresh farm produce, artisanal products, delicious hot food and friendly conversation. Indoor and outdoor eating spaces, a wide…

The Summerside Farmers’ Market is a Saturday ritual for many residents and a great shopping experience for visitors to the Island too! You’ll find vendors selling home-baked goodies, eggs, pork, beef, lamb, organic veggies, preserves and pickles, fruits (in season and frozen), spices, and a large variety of crafts. There are also hot food options, dining areas and a place…

The ACORN annual conference is a three-day event that brings together organic and sustainable farmers, processors, and businesses from across the region and beyond! The conference is an opportunity for delegates to broaden their knowledge and network with other people with similar values and priorities. We look forward to seeing you November 26-28, 2018 in Charlottetown, PE for the 2018…

If you are a vegan or vegan-curious, join fellow Islanders at Veg PEI’s monthly community potluck at 7 pm at the Haviland Club, 2 Haviland St., Charlottetown. If you’d like to share a dish, remember that all dishes must be vegan—so absolutely no meat, fish, seafood, dairy, eggs, or honey. Please bring your own plate/bowl, utensils, napkins, drinks, etc. This cuts down…

Charlottetown’s original and biggest farmers’ market is open from 9am-2pm year round on Saturdays and Wednesdays 9am to 2pm June 14 to October 4. It’s a Saturday morning tradition for many Islanders and a destination for locals and visitors in search of fresh farm produce, artisanal products, delicious hot food and friendly conversation. Indoor and outdoor eating spaces, a wide…

The Summerside Farmers’ Market is a Saturday ritual for many residents and a great shopping experience for visitors to the Island too! You’ll find vendors selling home-baked goodies, eggs, pork, beef, lamb, organic veggies, preserves and pickles, fruits (in season and frozen), spices, and a large variety of crafts. There are also hot food options, dining areas and a place…

PEI Certified Organic Producers Cooperative in collaboration with Brad Doiron, whole animal butcher specialized in certified organic, grass-fed, grass-finished beef will host Bones, Broths and Braising Workshops on December 2nd. The series will conclude Sunday, December 16, 2018 with a Turkey Cooking workshop. All workshops will be held at the Farm Centre Kitchen. There will be a $20.00 registration fee…

Charlottetown’s original and biggest farmers’ market is open from 9am-2pm year round on Saturdays and Wednesdays 9am to 2pm June 14 to October 4. It’s a Saturday morning tradition for many Islanders and a destination for locals and visitors in search of fresh farm produce, artisanal products, delicious hot food and friendly conversation. Indoor and outdoor eating spaces, a wide…

The Summerside Farmers’ Market is a Saturday ritual for many residents and a great shopping experience for visitors to the Island too! You’ll find vendors selling home-baked goodies, eggs, pork, beef, lamb, organic veggies, preserves and pickles, fruits (in season and frozen), spices, and a large variety of crafts. There are also hot food options, dining areas and a place…